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July 28, 1925.

J. R. OISHEI ELECTRICAL TIMER 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1920 July 28. 1925. 1,547,261

J. R. OISHEI ELECTRICAL TIMER Filed Anna. 30, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 28, 1925.

omreo S TA JOIIN R. OISHEI, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL rm Application filed August 30, 12 920. Serial No. 406,778,

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,'JOHN R. OISHEI, a citizen .of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Timers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to timing devices of the kind used in connection with the iguition circuits of internal combustion en gines to control the time of sparking in the engine cylinders.

In] sometypes of timers as heretofore made, a rotary brush or contact member 119. 15 along a fiber or non-metallic insulating .ring whichis provided at intervals with "stationary inetalhc contacts with which the br-ujsll is adapted to contact to close circuits to. the several spark plugs of the engine.

Q'IYl eSefffiber rin wear unevenly, creating depressions in te'fiber, which depressions eventually become so pronounced as to cause ,t-he b ush tofjump over the contacts and 11 .1 5. prevent the proper operationof the de- When this occurs in timers as now :made, the timer must be replaced by. a new one" since thi'sdefect cannot be economically repaired. p

: -'s onj eof the. objects of this invention are to p rovi d e.a timer of thiskind with a ring or track, 'preferably a nie'tal track suitably insulatedfrom contacts, which greatly increases the life of the timer; also to provide a ring or'track of this kind which is con structed and removably held in the shell or housing o'f the timer so that the ring can :be readi'ly replaced at small expense when fworn; also to construct and removably secure the contacts on the timer so that they when Worn or damaged without necessitatinganew traclzring or housing.

Other objects are to provide a brush or traveling contact. for a timer having a body portionmade ofsheet metal formed into the required shape; also to make the roller housing offthebrush of a piece of sheet 'metal ,suitablv' shaped; also "to provide can also. be.readily and cheaply replaced Fig. 2 is a transverse. sectional elevation thereof on line 22, Fig. 1.

"ig. I} is a transverse section thereof on line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof on line 4-.4, 2.

5 is a perspective view of a ring or track along which the contact brush travels.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one o'f'the contact devices of theltimer.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one. of the insulating bushings of the timing device.

Fig. 8 is a fperspe'ctive view of a ring or track or modi ed construction.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinalcentral sectional cievai ion of the. timer showingthe movable coni act member or brush in elevation.

Fig. '10 is a transverse viewofthe movable contact member-and the ring-or t rack removed from thetimeri Fig. 11 is a central. sectionalelevatifonfof the movable contact member. I

Fig. 12 is a sectional viewthereof online 12 12, Fig. 10. r p 1'- Fig. '13 is a sectional view thereof on'line 13 13, Fig. 11.

- its housing.

Fig.19 is a section thereof on-line 19-19,

' Fig. 16.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the hearing pin for the contact roll'er.

F 21 is a perspective view of theroller housing of the brush.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings as applied to tiniersjof the kind used on Ford automo'biles,'but it "is not intended to'limit the invention to such use, since the same may be applied'to other types of'ti'ming devices.

A represents the usual base on which the timer is mounted and A the usual shell or housing of the timer, which is preferably made of metal and is of cup shape, having an annular-wall a. The outer edges of the wall 0: are preferably seated'in an annular groove a 'formed in thehase A and the shell is held on the base A by'means of the usual spring clamp a The shell may 'be turned Fig. 14 is a perspective view o fithe bodfv in the groove to advance or retard the spark, as by' means 'of a rod a, Fig. 1, suitably connected with the shell and with the spark control lever of the vehicle. Oil or other lubricant may be admitted to the timer by means of an oil inlet 0., preferably located in the annular wall a of the shell. The brush or movable contact 13 of the timer is mounted on a rotary shaft B arranged concentrically with reference to theshell and extending into the shell through the base A. All of these parts have heretofore been used in connection with timing devices and ofth'emselves form no part of this invention and the improvements embodying this invention may be used in connection with these parts without necessitat-' ing any changes therein.

In accordance with this invention the usual fiber track or ring on which the movable contact member or brush B travels is .replaced by a metal track C supported within the shell or housing A, and the inner face of which is formed to provide a circular guide on which the movable contact member travels when the same is not engaging the stationary contacts. This track may consist of one or more metallic rin two being shown in the construction illustrated. These rings are preferably so .formedthat-stationarycontacts D may be spaced and insulated from the track but in operativerelationthereto, so that the movable contact member may pass from the track onto the stationary contacts and vice versa-while moving in a substantially true, circular path. Inthe construction shown Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the two track rings a and c are secured together at intervals by any suitable means, such; for example, as rivets 0 Both rings are provided with oppositeoutwardly offset portions 0 which form loops or spaces in which the contacts D are arranged. The end faces l of the contacts D are curved so as to form with the inner edges of the rings 0 and c a substantially continuous circular 'guidewa-y for the movable contact device. The walls extending between the portions 0 and 0* as illustrated in Fig. 5, are at an angle with respect to these portions, these portions being as illustrated substantially parallel, whereby a diagonally disposed edge is provided which will remove the excess oil or grease which may have collected on the contact roller, thus keeping the roller free from unnecessary lubricant and providing a good contact between the roller and the contact segment. This is particularly desirable in cold weather as the congealed oil or grease on the roller surface in the ordinary connnercial timers will frequently prevent the proper breaking of contact in starting the car and thereby preventthe proper sparking. This excess oil or grease, .which is scraped oil of the roller, discharges through the spaces between the rings 0 and c. Inorder to in-' sure a good contact between the movable and stationary contacts, the inner faces of the rings a and c are recessed or depressed at c at opposite sides of the contacts D so that the movable contact member will engage only with the contact members when passing over the recessed portions of the rings.

The stationary contact members D may be of any suitable or desired construction, those shown preferably being in the form of flat plates arranged edgewise with reference to the axis of the timer, the inner edge (I being curved as described. Each contact member is provided with an attaching portion or threaded stem d which may be formed integrally therewith, or, as shown in the drawings, may be detachably connected therewith, for example, by means of a dovetailed head (I on the stem (1 fitted in a corresponding dove-tailed recess in the contact member. By means of this arrangement the contact piece D may be made of material best adapted to withstand the arcing to which the contacts are subjected and the stem cl may be made of other conducting material. This construction also enables the contact pieces D and stems d to be made cheaply and with little waste .from metal stampings. I.

The guide track C and the contacts D may be held in place in the shell A in any suitable manner. In the construction shown for this purpose, a plurality of spacing members or insulators E are provided, each having a slot e adaptedto receive one of the contact-members D, and a hole 6 through which the stem (1 of the contact member extends. The insulators extend into the loops of the track C and are provided at oppositejsid'es with seats 6 on which the track rings are supported. The loops of the tracks Cfextending on opposite sides of the insulators E also prevent swelling or distortion of these insulators. These loops provide in effect straps disposed on the opposite sides of the insulators and, due to this strapping action, the swelling or distortion which is frequently caused in the present commercial type of fiber ring timers is prevented, thereby insuring a regular travel of the contact roller and preventing irregularities in the path of the roller. These insulators are held in place on the housing by means of the contacts D, the stems of which pass through holes in the shell A and are secured by nuts F. -The stems and nuts are insulated. from the shell by suitable means, such as Washersf and f of insulating material. The current may be conducted from each contact member D by means of a conductor f which is suitably clamped on the stem (1' b like. The nuts F and F securely hold the contact members in the bottoms of the slots a nut F or theof the insulators and also clamp the insuiators rigidly in place on the shell of the timer.

The track C is held in place on the seats 'e of the insulators E and in order to prevent the track from shifting relatively to the insu lators, the track rings 0 and c are preferably provided with ofiset portions 6 into which the insulators fit and which hold the rings from moving circumferentially in the shell. Any other means for holding the guide track and the stationary contacts in place in the shell' and insulating the contacts from the track and shell may be provided.

, 'A .guide track of modified'construction is shown in Fig. 8, in which two rings .G and G are provided, which are spaced apart by spacing tubes 9 through which rivets g extend. .These rivets secure the two rings to the spacing tubes. In other respects these rings substantially correspond to the rings cand i0"d escribed.

I By means'of the ide track and contact devices arranged as g scribed, a much longer life of the timer is ensured. The track may belmade of hardened metal which resists the wear due to the movable contact member to a much greater extent than the fiber tracks heretofore used. The contact members D jare soarran'ged in the timing device that theycan be easily removed in. case they becomeworn, and can be replaced by new contact members at a very small expense, and

withoutremoving the track or 'requiring a new track. -The insulators or spacing members E serve topl'operly position the track in the shell A- and facilitate the assembling of the device and at the same time insulate the contacts from the track and shell. It is not ,necessary,.however, to insulate the track from the shell since the timer will operate successfully if the track is secured directly to the shell, provided the contacts are insulated from the track and shell. By disposing the oil inlet a atthe point indicated, lubricating oil may be introduced directly in the path of the contact roller through the spacings between the two rings 0 and 0. This insures a proper oiling of the apparatus with a minimum quantity of oil as it is unnecessary to depend upon a certain amount of oil being deposited in the bottom of the casing to be picked up by the roller in its passage.

The movable contact member B, which is mounted on the shaft B and rotated thereby,

.may be of any suitable kind, but it is preferably constructed as follows:

It includes'a body which" is mounted on the shaft B. and is preferably-made of a single piece of sheet metal stamped and formed to provide a tubular portion-adapted to en- ('iJle the shaft B. and anoutwardly-extendingprojection iii-' Fig- 15 shows a blank from which the body portion may be formed,

this blank having a part II. which is bent to form the tubular portion h, of the body, and which is provided at one end with a recess it and at theotheren'd with a neck portion h, and at -qneside"with-'a'pair'of notches h. When the blank is bent to form the body the neck portion'h enters into the recess I1 and then extends outwardly therefrom, and the two notches k are 'disposed opposite to each other to receive a pin'for securing the body portion 'on-the shaft B. The neck portion h extending into the recess securely holds the two'abuttiiig'e'nds' of the tubular portion of the body in correct relation to each other and strengthens the body. The blank is also provided with a head portion h having oppositely extending arms 12 and an outwardly projecciug'extensionh, these parts forming the projection h-" of the body. j The two arms 1; and-the extension h are bent substantially at right angles to the head portion k for purposes hereinafter specified.

The movable contact member also includes afhousi ng land a contact-roller K journalled thereon, the housing being pivota'l'ly'supported' from the arms h of the body portion of the eontact member. Thehous- 'ing'I is' preferabily also formed 'of a single piece o'f"'rn e'tal bent substantially into U-shape, formingoutwardly extending arms between which *the contact roller is' jou'rnailed.- The housin is provided with holes 11 registering with ioles 11 formed in the arms h of the-body projection and a pin or rivet i extends through these holesto pivotally connect the housingto" the body. The housing is also provided witha boss or projection i preferably formed integrally therewith-and'which is adapted to cooperate with one end 'of'a compression coil spring 'L to hold the same in place. The other end "of the spring engages the extension h of the body projection so that the spring tends to swing the housing about its pivot 11 in such a manner as to press the roller K outrva rdly from the shaft B and hold it against the guide track C. The roller K may be iournalled on the outer end of the housing I in any desired manner. It is considered desirable to provide a hardened-steel hearing pin for the roller to turn on. If a pin of this kind is employed it is not possible to rivet the same in place on the housing in the usual manner and the following construction istherefore preferablyemployed.

M represents the bearing pin of hardened steel or the like which is preferably provided at eachend with a pair of oppositely disposed segmental rccesses m. The ends of the arms of the housing I are provided with -angular slots N adapted to receive the pin,

these slots having inner portions which are made large enough to permit the pin M'to pass endwise through the same, The outer ends n" of the slots are reduced in s'izeso that they are only large enough to receive the recessed portions of the pin therein. In assembling the pin, roller and housing, the pin is inserted endwise into the largest portion of slots in the housing and is passed through the hole in the roller. The pin is then moved sidewise through the angles of the slots into the reduced portions n thereof, where the pin will be held against end wise movement by the recesses m therein. When the parts of the movable contact device are in their operative positions as shown in Fig. 10, the pin is held in the reduced end portions 12. of the slots by the pressure of the spring L, which holds the roller against the track and prevents the pin M from passing over the angles of the slots. The direction of the movable contact device B is also such that the engagement of the track C with the roller tends to hold the pin back in the reduced ends of the slots N. Preferably, the reduced ends of the slots hold the pin from turnin in the housing so that the roller is force to turn on the hardened-pin, withthe result that there is very little wear onthe housing which is 'not hardened.

By means of the construction described, a strong an'd ;reliable brush or movable contact memberis produced, which is also inexpensive to construct, This contact memberhasthe advantage that-the roller K thereofis easily removable from the housing so that iii-this roller becomes worn or damaged, due to the arcing, it can be easily removed from theetime'r and replaced by a new one; The bearing pin can also be readily replaced if necessary. The fact that the spring-,L.acts undercompression also produces aj more reliable operation of the movable contact'devicegand makesit possible to use a comparatively small and stiff spring which ensures a good contact between the roller K and the contacts -D.

I claim as my invention;

1. In -a timing device, the combination of an annular metallic track, contacts arranged laterally with reference to said track and insulated therefrom, and a mov able contactdevice adapted to engage both .said track andsaid contact members, said trackhaving-depressed portions arranged in operative'relation to said contacts to cause said movable contact device to engage only said contacts when passing said depressed portions of the track. i

2. In a-timing device, the combination of a pair-of metalrings arranged side by side and having portionswhich are spaced apart, contactsyarranged in the spaces between said rings and insulated therefrom, and a movable contact member adapted to travel in engagement with said ring and to engage said. contacts, said rings having parts adjacent to said .contacts wh ich are located out of the path of movement of said travelling contact member, whereby said member does not engage said rings when it engages said contacts.

3. In a timing device, the combination of a housing, a contact member movable in a. substantially circular path in said housing, a guide track for said contact member comprising two metal rings, stationary contacts arranged between said rings and with which said movable contact member is adapted to engage, insulating members having parts ex tending between said rings and insulating said contacts from said track and said housing, and attaching means securing said contacts to said insulating members and holding said insulating members in place in said housing.

4. In a timing device, the combination of a housing, a contact member movable in a substantially circular path in said housing, a guide track for said contact member comprising two metal rings, stationary contacts arranged between said rings and with which said movable contactmember is adapted to engage, insulating members having parts extending between said rings and insulating said contacts from said track and said housing, said track having parts engaging said insulating members to hold said track against movement relatively to said insulating members, and means for holding said insulating members against movement in said housing. Y

5. A movable contact member for timing devices including a contact roller, a. in' on which said roller is journalled and aving portions of reduced diameter adjacent to its ends, and a housing on which said pin is secured, said housing having slots in which said pin is held and which are wider at one portion than at another whereby said pin may be inserted endwise into the 'slots through the wide portions thereof and held against endwise movement by the engagement of the reduced portions of the pin in the narrow portions of the slots.

6. A movable contact member for timing devices including a contact roller, a pin on which said roller is journalled and having portions of reduced diameter adjacent to its ends, a housing on which said pin is secured, said housing having slots in which said pin is held and which are wider atone portion than at another whereby said pin may be inserted endwiseinto theslots a pair of metal rings arranged side by side and having portions which are spaced apart, contacts arranged in the spaces between said rings and insulated therefrom, and a movable contact member adapted to travel in engagement with said ring and to engage said contacts.

8. In a timing device having a rotary con tact member, the combination of an annular metallic track removably supported in position and on which said member travels, and metallic contacts arranged in the path of movement of said rotary contact member and insulating means between said track and said contacts at points out of the path of movement of said rotary contact member, whereby said rotary contact member engages only with metallic surfaces throughout its path of movement.

9. In a timing device having a rotary contact member, the combination of a continuous annular metallic track member on which said contact member travels, metallic contacts insulated from said track member and removably supporting said track member in position and arranged in the path of movement of said rotary contact member whereby said rotary contact member engages only with metallic surfaces throughout its path of movement.

10. In a timing device having a rotary contact member, the combination of an annular track on which said member travels, said track having portions in the path of travel of the roller diagonally disposed to form cleaning edges for removing excess lubricant from said roller, and metallic contacts arranged in the path of movement of said rotary from said track at points outside of the path of movement of said rotary contact member whereby said rotary contact member engages only with metallic contacts throughout its path of movement.

WVitness my hand this 28th day of August, 1920.

JOHN R. OISHIEI.

contact member and insulated 

